PESTS are INSANE in Strixhaven!! Witherbloom Pests Deck in Standard - MTG Arena

[@jmangan17]

My recommendation after playing basically the same deck all yesterday, swap vito out for blight priests. Since all your life gain comes as individual points, vito isn't any better, and the priests aren't legendary so you can have multiples out. Also vito tends to be an instant removal target, priests are usually ignored for a round or two.

[@DefCatofficial]

this is such a good thing to notice man

[@NuLuumo]

For those wondering, I think this is the modified decklist Deck 4 Woe Strider 7 Swamp 4 Fabled Passage 2 Necroblossom Snarl 4 Darkbore Pathway 4 Daemogoth Titan 3 Daemogoth Woe-Eater 3 Sedgemoor Witch 5 Forest 2 Castle Locthwain 2 Marauding Blight-Priest 2 Heartless Act 4 Plumb the Forbidden 4 Tend the Pests 4 Dina, Soul Steeper 2 Bloodchief's Thirst 2 Valentin, Dean of the Vein 2 Bastion of Remembrance

[@re8837]

blight priests would be a good swap; + reduces rare count so helps with getting weaker opponents. But I still like to swiing with Vito handful of creatures, + team lifelink, so I might keep 1.

[@lilbitsssss]

But at the same time Vito adding lifelink to a ton of 1/1s who can suicide and heal for an additional 1 could be pretty nuts now pulling that off is another thing but definitely a great budget option

[@ashketsup1122]

You can sacrifice the pests before damage to prevent lifelink

[@comokazijeff]

I remember thinking about that before comment and just forgot before damage.

[@perezo27]

I've been toying around with a Silverquill list, a Lurrus, Killian, Clarion Spirit, Hateful Eidolon auras deck. Killian makes all your removal and All That Glitters cheaper, Hateful Eidolon draws you cards, Clarion Spirit makes your board wider since you are casting a lot of cheap spells, and Lurrus allows you to replay everything. A lot of removal with 4 Giant Killer, 2 Swift Response, and 2 Blade Vanish (which all become cheaper with Killian), alongisde the good old 4 Dead Weight and 4 Mire's Grasp. 3 Board Wipes of your choosing, 3 Call Death Dweller to get Lurrus back, and 4 All That Glitters for a pseudo Voltron wincon (Hateful Eidolon is an enchantment too) on Killian, who has Menace and Lifelink. Speaking of Killian, 4 of him, 4 Eidolon, 4 Clarion Spirit, and 22 lands. Super fun, fast and value effective (in White-Black of all colors, not Green-Blue), not to mention relativly budget, the only Rares are 1 Lurrus, the 3 Board Wipes, and a bit of the mana base.

[@endlesstidesofphyrexia4357]

This is the Colour Combo I've been most excited for since the reveals. Good stuff 👏

[@AlienLunatic]

I just created this deck with a few miner tweaks due to the lack of vito - and let me tell you, it's insane. I was completely blown away with the amount of combos. I rarely find myself lacking things to do. It's incredible and a rush to play. Thank you for uploading this!

[@FlameMage2]

This is what my Cruel Celebrant deck itch gets scratched by hopefully yet again in standard ty Jeff!

[@imAllergicToBees]

Tip for the Woe-Eater: put a stop during your upkeep step so that you can cast Tend the Pests at instant speed before it sacrifices itself.

[@goreobsessed2308]

Nice free blocker for a turn

[@grandogrando6505]

You could killed the first dude when he heartless acted dina, woe striders have free sacrifice

[@laziepeon1209]

Good eye on the free sac out let with the bastion and her life gain triggers. That would be at least 30 damage on board with the pest triggers as well.

[@scottb235]

True, but with the other Dina guess it didn't matter. Played a game earlier where I had Dina, Remembrance and Vito out with a board of pests vs BG mutate... it... it was beautiful :D

[@Matty779]

I was actually going to mention the same thing, as well as sac the pests that got blocked by the life linkers to avoid opp from gaining life

[@chelseymarie1051]

He's not a good player, expect fucking up.

[@NisseHult101]

I have 3 Blex:es in my pests deck. Also I think Sedgemoor Witch should be a 4-of, especially if going for a lower curve with a decent amount of instants and sorceries. I experimented with it a bit yesterday and it worked fine (not awesome, but pretty well).

[@zebedeetotty]

You can also play the black 1 drop called Eyewitch that learns when it dies then you can grab the lesson pest summoning for even more fuel

[@rumgloom]

Worth tossing in for side for different fighting styles

[@Chuck_Sexton]

Who's like the first one to drop a pest deck, big Jeff!!!! Let's go, this is dope!

[@Inoc03]

seen 2 - 3 videos of pest decks before this. Couple of diff variants

[@michaelspolarich8133]

Been experimenting with this. After about 40 games I only had Lisette go off once, and they just arent consistent enough. I cut them for more Heartless acts. Mortality Spear has also been an interesting experiment instead of heartless acts or Bloodchiefs, as has Binding the Old Gods (The third tick is actually useful with a pest-y board). I also don't think the deck justifies the Sedgemoor Witches. Its really all about Tend for pest generation. I've cut one for a third Bastion, and am thinking about cutting the others.

[@comokazijeff]

Thanks for the info! I think you're right on this. Hello Good Game has an interesting artisan/f2p version that's pretty good too.

[@damonbreuklander2155]

Sounds like you're summoning her too early. I have the most success with her when I summon with witherbloom apprentice already on the field, and at least 1 instant/sorcery to use. I've gotten her to activate like 5 times in one turn once. Idk how you only have it activate once in 40 games.

[@Mega00gundam]

Had a game where I had 11 pests, Vito, bastion, and dina. Just used vito's ability to give everything lifelink and I went all in with the pests. It was a very satisfying win.

[@cedricbirgans7337]

i know you said it isn't the most optimized version is there a way we can see what a more optimized version would look like?

[@c1dv1c1ous]

I love how strixhaven has turned the colors upside-down.

[@thesarcasticliberal]

I've been running this in Jund with a lot of success. Kroxa + Tend the Pests is kinda gross on turn 4, and you can sacrifice Kroxa to Dina to make her a 7/3 on turn 3 to smack the opponent if they haven't set up a blocker. Also, I would add in a Deadly Brew or two if I were you. It lets you sacrifice a pest to get back a Daemagoth, while forcing the opponent to sacrifice a creature.

[@psuscott16]

New Arena player (Couple weeks) but I have a decent amount of wildcards (6MR, 9 Rare, 25 UC and 26 common). I have been toying with a deck like this but I suck at building decks. The two versions I have seen have been F2P. Can you make any suggestions for adding in Mythic Rares? I want to build a deck that I'll be to use for a while bc I wont have this many wildcards again. Thanks in advance!

[@Hybridman7]

Great fun watching you walking your menagerie around the opponent :D

[@TheFyresnake]

So made this deck and tweeked it just a little...but having Basion, Dina, and the witch up...Cast Plumb on 13 pests and hit the opp for 26...and make 13 more pests...SOOO fun! I put Binding and village rites in there as well.

[@sazger]

Could you link an image of deck?

[@Spieraggg]

Can you also do a Blex deck? Really like his art style and effects

[@comokazijeff]

Definitely coming soon!! I've been excited for that

[@bradkuehl4369]

I added Garruk, Cursed Huntsman to the deck and it's working out pretty good!

[@goreobsessed2308]

Definitely atleast one all those doggies

[@finnj2009]

You really pulled through with the impestable win

[@bradkuehl4369]

Awesome deck! Love Golgari!!! Keep them coming!

[@collegekids15]

I love this college, so glad you made a great deck!

[@danielmuller9793]

Nice combo, I love this, could I add beledros on this combo? Should be nice, spawning every round a pest

[@alsween218]

Well it looks like Big Jeff Daddy finally got to redeem himself against the Simic Kicker deck! To my knowledge, the last time he went up against it was during the Zendikar release when he got matched up against Seth (probably better know as Saffron Ooooliiiiiiive!😆) and he was taking it to him but then "The Olive" busted out with this CRAZY kicker c-c-c-combo COMEBACK which was pretty INSANE🤪! Definitely a match for the MTG Arena history books🤗😏

[@colbyryanelliott]

Keep up the great content

[@tfontana12123]

I've been playing my Scute Swarm deck to counter this and while it makes me feel dirty, it is also so satisfying. Opponent may have had 22 pests on a definitely not free deck but I had 64 scute!

[@TheFyresnake]

But Opp can sac their 22 pests and hit you for 22 if ONLY Dina is up...if Bastion is op as well they are hitting you for 44 damage.

[@miguelmiguel1252]

@@TheFyresnake more like 66 bastion heals too so dina triggers again

[@TheFyresnake]

@@miguelmiguel1252 true!!! However I killed Opp before the extra Dina triggers.

[@spice_krispies]

Why no Serrated Scorpion? Just curious

[@markovucilovski9876]

I wonder what the best way to build a Historic version of this deck would be. And would you stay in Golgari colors, or would you jump to Abzan?

[@carlosRodriguez-vs5qi]

Amazing deck man!! Your deck building skills are on point

[@cedricbirgans7337]

Great video man! I wish i knew how to deck build on this level XD. I wonder if that titan would be insane in some sort of fling deck. Where you just fling 11 damage at their face if they try to block or remove it

[@sazger]

Not a bad idea. If you could change the titan into a giant (the all your creatures are all creature types) and then fling with the giant that deals double damage

[@Renvaar1989]

I couldn't quite afford all the rares, so I dropped a few for some Witherbloom Apprentices, which works quite nicely.

[@exterminator0242]

Just faced this deck... scary moment happened when I went for the non-creature discard and saw the Vito in hand...

[@DangStank]

I recommend throwing some “infuse with vitality” cards on there. Then you can use tend the pests without actually losing your sacrificed creature

[@quarterknight3572]

I would like to see an Inkling deck with the new elder dragon. I'm trying to figure out ways to build it but it hasn't been working for me so far

[@comokazijeff]

I've got one coming in 2 days. Not full in on inkling, bit silver will control.

[@hdafkaksbfabfbao77]

I added Binding of the Old Gods and Mortality Spear for removal in my builds with all the constant life gain the spear is always live

[@comokazijeff]

Sweet! Good call!

[@jacknelson8640]

YAY thank you for playing the 'Sedgemoor Witch' :D

[@helenprince476]

It is so easy to see which streams ppl watch and straight up copy. A few months ago was the rune crab mill deck right? I've played against this exact deck so many times. I wish ppl would come up with their own decks 🙄

[@MrDaveC84]

Tend the pests + mystic reflection

[@Hanmacx]

You can choose the creature and then sacrifice the one

[@Hanmacx]

Use it on something like Massacre Wurm

[@globby7820]

There’s this black enchantment card I forgot it’s name but whenever your opponent lose a life you gain one life. Which makes an infinite combo with Dina or Vito when a pest dies. Although I think it costs like 5 or 6 mana. Edit: nvm I think it’s historical

[@JoeyBComer]

at 16:40 when he heartless act Dina you could've used Woe strider to sacrifice your pests and the life gain from the pest death and bastion was a win. Just before the opponent quit you saw that and was like oh yeah. lol. Bastion, Dina and Vito are crazy together.

[@marijuanas]

This deck is pretty cool! Tried it and enjoy it

[@gianmariacapuzzo2383]

Witherbloom feels more golgari than actual Golgaris ever did on any Ravnica block..

[@JoeyBComer]

I made a similar deck. I didn't know about Plumb the forbidden. Will be slotting that in. I use Fiend Artisan to be able to tutor for the creatures I need as well. Also Serrated Scorpion is a nice 1 drop common.

[@jenova2916]

I think a lot people underestimate the "Blood Researcher" in this deck...it can grow and put more damage out of nowhere by sacing pests...it can be sacced by dina to make her deal more damage. It has menace. Its So versatile and strong in this deck! You should really try her out!

[@jenova2916]

Also i really like 2x infuse with vitality to either kill big creatures OR as a removal deny OR use it before you sac the titan with Tend the Pests the Forbidden to use it again next round Edit: i use 2 Great Henge as well in my deck to draw more cards and gain even more life to Deal damage. It also supports the Researcher. Play it with regular mana, and then use great henge and you already have a 4/4 Researcher

[@brett5569]

What would you sideboard with this deck?

[@SpicyLobsta]

duuuuuuide tend the titan!

[@arenahacks4836]

I've tried making this deck, with most of the same cards to, but performed terribly! After seeing this video I still don't see enough differences to explain why mine is soo bad. Maybe I just had an unlucky run in arena, I know that's happened before.

[@chexmix0101]

Go wide golgari looks like fun

[@alderonsabbet7217]

Do you think adding a doubling season would help it too?

[@MikeLCammarata]

pretty sure i played against you on ladder playing this lmao it was hilarious

[@michaelhair7828]

Running a deck with Sedgmoor Witch, Korvold, Claim the Firstborn and Tend the pests. Serious fun deck

[@comokazijeff]

Oh gosh! I didn't think about korvold in a pest deck... And with plumb the forbidden. So busted!

[@kahelem6077]

New lore? Dino is dating Vito. Life gain Vito deck 2.0 😂

[@comokazijeff]

🤣 the spicy lore!

[@windknife]

Vito is already seeing Marauding Blight-Priest and Indulging Patrician.

[@goreobsessed2308]

@@windknife woo a harem

[@SuperBreedPsyko]

Have run into this deck 9 games in a row. Now I know why.

[@sonofyupe]

Have you done a 2022 version? If not would you try my deck list and make it better? 😅 I’ll post it if I actually get a reply.

[@LordT]

Really like the deck! Dina is Strixhavens Slimefoot for me 😁 can't wait to build this on Arena

[@Jasongy827]

Winter bloom to silver quill? Traditionally I play jund, or green decks

[@bgriffie]

Any way to turn this theme into something similar to the old ProsBloom decks? Culling Ritual or something?

[@robsthetics]

I don’t have some of the land cards like castle and fabled could I still use without them ?

[@liberaltrucker9977]

I think I made a list that is actually competitive in standard and is a total house. It's a more Stompy style of this same idea that I think is more of a house than your version. Check this out for your consideration. Deck 4 Archfiend's Vessel (M21) 88 4 Necroblossom Snarl (STX) 269 4 Eyetwitch (STX) 70 4 Lovestruck Beast (ELD) 165 4 Bayou Groff (STX) 121 3 Tend the Pests (STX) 242 4 Call of the Death-Dweller (IKO) 78 8 Forest (ELD) 267 10 Swamp (ELD) 261 4 Lurrus of the Dream-Den (IKO) 226 2 Valentin, Dean of the Vein (STX) 161 4 Fully Grown (IKO) 154 3 Plumb the Forbidden (STX) 81 2 Demonic Embrace (M21) 95 Sideboard 2 Introduction to Annihilation (STX) 3 1 Introduction to Prophecy (STX) 4 2 Environmental Sciences (STX) 1 2 Necrotic Fumes (STX) 78 3 Tormod's Crypt (M21) 241 4 Underworld Dreams (THB) 121 1 Daemogoth Titan (STX) 174

[@Fat0Lips]

You should take a look at Double-Major combined with Fynn, the Fangbearer

[@cristianlopezbrenes4797]

I like very much the deck. I hope more new decks for changing a little bit the matches (the same decks: Rouges, Sultai, Mono Red).

[@brent0034]

Really enjoy watching your videos Jeff, just waiting on a Quandrix deck now lol

[@comokazijeff]

You've got it! It'll be a few days, but it's coming!

[@realnudetayne]

awesome video man. Deck looks fun!

[@eisenfoxgaming7548]

I get to mythic every season with this deck: 2 eyetwich 2 shambling gast 2 village rites 2 deadly dispute 2 valantine 2 heartless act 4 hunt for specimens 4 forbbiden 3 dina 4 bastion of rememberence 4 sedgemore witch 2 lovestruck beast ( 1/1 truffer for witch) 2 rankle 2 mortaly spear ( swap with binding ) 3 lolth spider queen 20 lands 4 pathway, 1 castle of locthwain, 2 lair of hydra, 4 Forest, 9 swamp

[@waytoomuchtimeonmyhands]

How did they not reprint Signal Pest for this set?

[@Woopertrooperash]

Because they didnt want to put another mechanic in the set, but they could have put it in the Witherbloom Precon

[@comokazijeff]

I think they wanted to keep pests to tokens for the mascot theme too.

[@robertviscomi8199]

How would you upgrade this with rares to make this even more competitive.

[@domonic8]

16:05 why not sac the 3 pest before they left play for free drain and scry thru woe strider? you had dina out so it was a free 6 point swap

[@QuarantinedCapricorn]

"good stuff" :D

[@AttisSoul]

Imagine getting this all set up perfectly then the opponent plays a massacre wurm. I am that opponent xD that felt so good watching 15 pest all die dealing 2 damage per pest :D

[@Owen579]

Jeff. I say this each time. But, I like you. NOW - I was going to suggest yesterday that you make a pest deck. I did and it was ok, not great compared to yours. I LOVE this deck. Thank you!

[@dzello]

I think you should run the Archfiend's Vessel who's a 1 black cost you can cast from the graveyard to become a 5/5 which would be a good sacrificing tool as well as something that comes back for more sacrifice AND a big body for a lot of pests.

[@harrymillan4664]

He can't be cast from the graveyard. He just turns into the demon when something else brings him back. Jeff's deck has no recursion. So even Serrated Scorpion would be better.

[@dzello]

@@harrymillan4664 Huh are you sure? I thought he could be cast or brought back.

[@iMac76]

@@dzello It can be, just not on its own.

[@TheSailorKing]

WTF Jeff are you contemplating at 14:45 attack with all Woe Strider in to Tibalt

[@Jonasz314]

I think Blex is pretty much an auto-include. It's mythic thus not very budget friendly, but if you want to be more competitive, 2x~3x should be correct.

[@bobfranklin2572]

Plumb the forbidden should just say "sacrifice 5 pests, win the match".

[@chucknastybeats7291]

Ya this deck is nice when you get the 4 cards you need. Otherwise it’s hard to stay alive when you get straight lands or only enchants

[@Tomha]

I like using the Garruk, cursed hunter to produce more tokens. Use his emblem and all your boys get +3/+3 and trample Play the one black God card so everytime 1 dies, you pay 2 life to draw a card

[@JoshuaSAlt31]

I am running culling ritual+Underworld Dreams+Peer Into The Abyys

[@ZooMEZ]

Pests are the new amenket -1-1counters

[@PastDark877]

Tend the pests is an instant, that's great

[@IrieVibeSender]

pest deck blodchief thirst x2 valentine , dean of the vein x2 heartless act x2 plumb the forbidden x4 dina soul steeper x4 tend the pests x4 bastion of remberance x2 sedgemoor witch x3 vito thorn of the dusk rose x2 woe stride x4 daemogoth woe-eater x4 daemogoth titan x3 castle locthwain x2 forest x15 darkbore pathway x4 necroblossom snarl x2 fabled passage x4 swamp x7

[@colonel_oscopy]

this deck needs massacre girl lol

[@bournagio]

Ayara is very good for combo!

[@comokazijeff]

Oh gosh, that will happen at some point for sure!

[@kolrot3343]

why cant i import this into mtga? it says unknown card title "plumb the forgotten" wtf man

[@goreobsessed2308]

New set glitch just take that card out of the copy and do it manually

[@eisenfoxgaming7548]

Jeff!!!! Hope your reading

[@GadwickTheWizened]

I would cut 2 Woe Striders for 2 Bastions of Remembrance

[@tasigin3815]

I added meathook massacre so I can pay 3 mana to kill all my pests and everything else with 1 def, so I burn my opponent for every pest and gain the same amount of health

[@vario6492]

The deck is fun and powerful in a vacuum, sure, but the two crucial problems being relying on too many cards in the right sequence to do anything, and extremely vulnerable to board wipes, wouldn't stand a chance in competitive

[@quackquack7537]

i finally found a gameplay

[@scottb235]

I'm having sooooooooooo much fun with my Aristo-Pests deck

[@comokazijeff]

Haha great name!! 😂😂

[@bizznatches1]

Great, now everyone will be running this deck.

[@Lord_OGRE]

Pests +scute

[@thefacebehindthemask7007]

Who does that you ask? I do that!! 🤣😂

[@comokazijeff]

😂😂

[@Hanmacx]

Brewers assemble jadzi and titan's nest

[@Hanmacx]

Need more Blex

[@comokazijeff]

Lol that deck will be coming soon

[@Hanmacx]

@@comokazijeff I would try more pest cards like Pest Summoning As for other stuff, I tried Mono Brown Plow in Standard xD

[@JoshuaSAlt31]

I seem to be spending way too much money not to be playing ranked

[@dirkdiggler6011]

We are looking for player who are interested in a new MTG format called RUSH. We've had several tournaments and have an active league. If you are interested in joining our discord community and playing with us, the link is here: discord.gg/DQTj8FQPu5

[@Kooksrifles]

Wow, this is bad decisions, sorry, Jeff :D

[@rikim89]

I crafted this deck: 1 win 12 loss